Thisara Perera was adjudged Man of the Series for his all-round performance.

Thisara Perera usually does not have a good time against Pakistan. He had dropped a dolly off Sarfraz Ahmed in 2017 Champions Trophy, giving away an easy victory and a confirmed place in the semi-final. In the first match of Independence Cup, he leaked as many as 51 runs and then scored a mere 17 in a pursuit of colossal total.

This time he put a lid on the runs. This time he was dropped. This time he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

After he ended with figures of 2 for 23, he used the long handle to devastating effect and walloped 47 off a mere 19 balls to help World XI keep the series alive. Rightly so, he was adjudged Man of the Match.

All this would not have happened had Hashim Amla not laid foundation. The South African opener displayed incredible temperament and remained unbeaten on 72 off 55. Along with Perera, he added 69 off 29, winning the contest by 7 wickets.

Apart from Imad Wasim, none of the bowlers could choke the World XI batters, as five bowlers went over 8 RPO.

Pakistan otherwise applied themselves sensibly. They brushed off the infamous tag of an ordinary fielding side, giving their all to save vital runs.

Babar Azam and Ahmed Shehzad continued their good work, scoring 43 and 45 respectively. To add more fuel to the fire, the warhorse Shoaib Malik went all guns blazing and accumulated 39 off 23.

Samuel Badree, despite conceding 3 boundaries off his first over, ended with figures of 2 for 31. Interestingly, this match was the first instance when he did not open the bowling in his T20I career.

The third and final T20I will be played on September 15, at the same venue – Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.